Kenneson MERLIN GT N912AK

Summary

On 23 July 1997 at about 12:39 local time, a Kenneson MERLIN GT registered N912AK was involved in an accident near Kensington, New Hampshire, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 1997 at 12:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Kensington, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Cole Airstrip (NONE)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Kenneson MERLIN GT

Registration

N912AK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97LA152

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's inability to obtain and/or maintain control of the airplane after takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/builder of the airplane departed from a grass strip on the airplane's inaugural flight. After takeoff the airplane began to oscillate in the roll axis with increasing intensity. According to the pilot: 'Shortly after takeoff, at approximately fifty feet the plane started to dutch roll first left then right. I pulled back power and the third oscillation was toward a large pine tree. At this point the aircraft was approximately at a thirty degree bank. As I pulled back further on the power to avoid hitting the pine tree the aircraft brushed the tree and then started a slip to the left toward the ground.' The airplane subsequently collided with the runway. Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.